Jean Wright, age 93, died in Fresno, California, on Wednesday, April 7. Jean was born in Santa Barbara, although her parents, Pearl and Thomas Chalmers, were living in San Luis Obispo at the time. Their home was located on Mt. Pleasanton Drive (now Chorro Street). Jean attended Fremont Elementary, San Luis Obispo Junior High, and graduated from San Luis Obispo High School in June of 1945. She later attended U.C. Berkeley, graduating in 1950, majoring in Political Science, with a minor in Spanish. She met Quentin Wright in 1945 when he was stationed at Camp San Luis Obispo, and they were married at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in the summer of 1950.
Jean and Quentin both completed their teaching credentials at U.C. Berkeley, and their first teaching assignments after getting married were at Rockport, a tiny lumber town in northern California, where the school had just three teachers. Quentin was principal and taught 5th and 6th grades, while Jean taught 3rd and 4th grades. After three years of enjoying teaching in the redwoods, they were given an opportunity to teach overseas for the U.S. Navy. Travel was very appealing to both of them, and this seemed the perfect chance to teach, as well as travel and see the world. Their first destination was Taiwan, where the Navy had a two teacher school on the edge of the city of Kaohsiung. After a year in Taiwan, they taught in Izmir, Turkey for two years. Quentin was then appointed superintendent of the military schools in Morocco.
It was during their time in Morocco and Spain, that they began their family, first adopting David, then Jesse, both from Greece, and a short time later Jean gave birth to Lucy. With three small children, they decided it was time to return to the United States. Their first school was a public boarding school in eastern Oregon near the cattle ranch that belonged to Quentin’s father, where they had previously spent summers. Later, they moved to the Central Valley in California, where Quentin was principal of a small school in Le Grand. Jean enjoyed being mom to their three children, and soon after added two more sons, Jason, and Thomas.
Quentin later served as superintendent of schools in Parlier, and the family relocated to Reedley, where they were members of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church. In 1977 the family moved to Escalon, when Quentin took a position as superintendent of Delta Island School District. At this time, Jean returned to teaching, at El Portal Middle School in Escalon. Jean and Quentin were both active members of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Modesto, and later Christ the King Episcopal Church in Riverbank.
After Quentin died in 2001, Jean decided to return to San Luis Obispo.
She continued to be active in the community, and was a member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, volunteered at Pacheco Elementary School, and enjoyed scenic walks with the Walkie-Talkies hiking group.
Jean is survived by her sister Eleanore and husband Jim, her children David and wife Doreen, Jesse, Lucy and husband Dan, Jason and wife Maria, Thomas and wife Meredith, and her eight grandchildren, Spenser, Hunter, Quentin, Pearl, Leone, Cleveland, August, and Penelope.
A memorial service has been scheduled for Saturday, June 26, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in San Luis Obispo, at 12 p.m.
Jean and Quentin both completed their teaching credentials at U.C. Berkeley, and their first teaching assignments after getting married were at Rockport, a tiny lumber town in northern California, where the school had just three teachers. Quentin was principal and taught 5th and 6th grades, while Jean taught 3rd and 4th grades. After three years of enjoying teaching in the redwoods, they were given an opportunity to teach overseas for the U.S. Navy. Travel was very appealing to both of them, and this seemed the perfect chance to teach, as well as travel and see the world. Their first destination was Taiwan, where the Navy had a two teacher school on the edge of the city of Kaohsiung. After a year in Taiwan, they taught in Izmir, Turkey for two years. Quentin was then appointed superintendent of the military schools in Morocco.
It was during their time in Morocco and Spain, that they began their family, first adopting David, then Jesse, both from Greece, and a short time later Jean gave birth to Lucy. With three small children, they decided it was time to return to the United States. Their first school was a public boarding school in eastern Oregon near the cattle ranch that belonged to Quentin’s father, where they had previously spent summers. Later, they moved to the Central Valley in California, where Quentin was principal of a small school in Le Grand. Jean enjoyed being mom to their three children, and soon after added two more sons, Jason, and Thomas.
Quentin later served as superintendent of schools in Parlier, and the family relocated to Reedley, where they were members of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church. In 1977 the family moved to Escalon, when Quentin took a position as superintendent of Delta Island School District. At this time, Jean returned to teaching, at El Portal Middle School in Escalon. Jean and Quentin were both active members of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Modesto, and later Christ the King Episcopal Church in Riverbank.
After Quentin died in 2001, Jean decided to return to San Luis Obispo.
She continued to be active in the community, and was a member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, volunteered at Pacheco Elementary School, and enjoyed scenic walks with the Walkie-Talkies hiking group.
Jean is survived by her sister Eleanore and husband Jim, her children David and wife Doreen, Jesse, Lucy and husband Dan, Jason and wife Maria, Thomas and wife Meredith, and her eight grandchildren, Spenser, Hunter, Quentin, Pearl, Leone, Cleveland, August, and Penelope.
A memorial service has been scheduled for Saturday, June 26, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in San Luis Obispo, at 12 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her remembrance may be made to St. Stephen’s Church.
May 5, 2021
